Tenrikyo
(Teaching of Divine Reason)

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  • Miki Nakayama
- Founder of Tenrikyo
- on October 26th, 1838 her son and husband were very ill so they called a Buddhist monk to exorcise the spirit causing the disease
- during the incantation, God was said to entered her body, and asked to receive her as God’s shrine
- her husband gave in to this request three days after

  • Purpose
Showing followers the way to the Joyous Life on Earth
à charity, and abstention from greed, selfishness, hatred, anger and arrogance

  • Key Teachings
- Moto-no-Ri - the principle of origin
- Kashimono-Karimono (a thing lent, a thing borrowed ) - relationship between human body and God
- Hinokishin - voluntary effort as a means of showing gratitude for Kashimono- Karimono relationship (charitable
or public service)
- Tanno (acceptance) - constructive attitude towards troubles, illness, and difficulties without placing judgment on what
happened in the past
- Juzen-no-Shugo - ten principles involved in creation which exist in Futatsu Hitotsu (2 in 1 relationship)
à principles are considered to be applied continuously throughout the universe
- Kanrodai - the main pillar that is located at the “place where mankind first was created” à Jiba

  • Understanding of the nature of god
1st level - Kami: god as understood in every day term
2nd level - Tsukihi: god as the creator of nature and natural laws
3rd level - Oya: god as the parent of human being

  • Eight kinds of Dust
1. Miserliness
2. Covetousness
3. Hatred
4. Self- love
5. Grudge- bearing
6. Anger
7. Greed
8. Arrogance

  • Otsume à Daily Service
- performed twice a day - mornings and evenings (according to sun rise and sun set)
- Instruments are the Hiroshige (wooden clappers), Chanpon (cymbals), Surigane (small gongs), Taiko (large drums)
- Hyoshigi is played by the head minister
- people has to face in the direction of the Jiba, or “home of the parent”
- purpose is to sweep away the Eight Mental Dusts of the Mind
  • Hinokishin à cleansing of the mind
- performance is both, symbolic and literal
- act of cleaning mimics actions of removing dusts from mind
à cleaning public bathrooms, cleaning parks, and other acts of community service

  • Tsukinamisai à Monthly Service
- usually on the third Sunday of the month
- at the Jiba on the 26th of the month (foundation of Tenrikyo)
- is performed with instruments, dancers- 3 men and 3 women- and a singer in traditional montsuki

  • Relation with other religions
    - Tenrikyo is considered by some followers as a teaching about the universe and does not necessarily interfere with
religious beliefs
- many Tenrikyo followers have also Christian beliefs